Chapter 3, Problem 1RQ

What enables us to control the properties and performance of engineering materials?

To determine

The feature controlling the properties and performance of engineering materials.

Explanation of Solution

The feature that controls the properties and performance of engineering materials is the structure of the material.

The properties possessed by a material depends on the microstructure of the material. To impart certain properties, the structure of the material becomes focus of study. The material structure is designed and produced according to the requirement of the properties desirable in the final product.

If it is required to change the properties of the material or change the performance of the material in order to employ the material for getting maximum performance output, the one thing which can be focussed first is the structure of the material. If the material in hand is supposed to be not working adequately then an advanced version of the same material can be prepared by just tweaking the structure of the material.

Thus, the properties and performance of engineering materials are controlled by the structure of the material.